Hixson is a second term legislator who has been at the capitol for three years. His first two elections were against a relatively popular Republican incumbent who was quite well known in the district. If I remember correctly, he won his first election by 38 votes. You can say a lot of things about Kim Hixson, but it's horribly inaccurate to call him "entrenched". He is a relative newcomer who will likely have to work hard if he seeks a third term.
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voices,
While it is possible that Vander Meer made the statement from the Capitol office during work hours, nothing in this story says or suggests that he did. Also, I don't believe that the rules against campaigning from Capitol office's prevents legislative staff from issuing what amounts to a non-statement about the election.

voices: Thanks for the response. It is great to see that you are active and engaged with Wisconsin government. I will address all of your concerns.

1. I believe we should take biomass from any reasonable source. The ditches that are mowed twice by the towns and counties could be used. To help with erosion and runoff, switch grass could be planted around all streams and waterways. I do not like the limitations that are in the proposed bill.

2. Farmers are at the mercy of the market. There is mostly corn, soybeans, and wheat grown for commercial sale in this area. Diversity is the recipe for success in any venture.

3. I don't see any merit to food vs. fuel. Farmers continually grow higher quality, higher yield crops from the same piece of ground year after year. Putting a 30% of District 43's commodity farmland into switch grass is a win win. Farmers will save money on field time and fertilizer. It is only harvested once a year. It will help increase pollination of existing annual crops. It will help reduce the amount of nitrates in our drinking water.

4. How will we transport it? The same way that corn is transported, by rail. A processing facility can form the bio mass into pellets which can then be handled by any grain handling equipment. Just like the farmers in the fall do with their corn, after the grass is baled, it can be hauled to a processing facility.

5. The market will exist, because it will be mandated. A five year plan will go into motion to help give farmers the time needed to prepare a crop of switch grass for productive harvest. Once established, it is virtually maintenance free in comparison to annual crops.

6. If certain individuals are unwilling to embrace a potential boon for this area, I will never change their minds. Innovation will be the ignition to get Wisconsin back on track. I have made a commitment to remain positive and believe in District 43. I would rather put up a struggle, than to lay down my arms.

I'm certainly not against the concept of using biomass, but the devil is always in the details. The current Clean Energy Jobs Bill (climate change legislation) that was drafted this year by Sen. Miller and Rep. Black addresses biomass. However, it contains a long list of places where we would not be able to harvest biomass from (state and federal owned land, CRP land, managed forest land). What's left but productive farmland? Are you really advocating that Rock County farmers (many of whom would take offense to your 'hostage' remark) are going to take land out of corn, alfalfa, soybean, oats and wheat) to grow switchgrass for some unestablished market that is going to be set up in the name of clean energy?
Frankly, there's only so many scrubby parcels of land in the 43rd Assembly District that will be eligible to produce biomass. How are we going to transport this heavy product to energy plants? Especially to those in the middle of a city (like the Charter Street in downtown Madison).
Also, didn't we just go through the big 'food vs. fuel' fight in 2008? Now it's a good thing to not grow food in order to grow sticks and grass for burning?
Biomass sounds nice, but even its biggest advocates usually see the hurdles it currently faces.
The last thing the farmers of the 43rd Assembly District need is some guy telling them that he's got just the cure for what ails them. Anyone remember the Jerusalem artichoke?

I think we all need to give Mr. Gaboda a chance.

He does have a good understanding of the biomass potential in Wisconsin. Remember, any move away from coal is going to cost us as ratepayers more money. Unfortunately for us ratepayers our PSC is not going to approve anything but wind turbines in the near future. The PSC didn’t approve the coal/biomass combo plant because we have an excess of power generation capacity in Wisconsin now lasting to 2024.

There are several documents describing the biomass potential in Wisconsin and hopefully they will be available on Matt’s web site for your review.

As an independent he won’t have to play ball with either party. At a meeting with a recently elected State Senator I was told ” you know I have been told if you oppose things around here (Madison) they will make sure you never get anything you want either”. This man was turned into a Madison robot the first week, he does as instructed by a select few senior Senators.

This go with the flow attitude must stop.

Think term limits.

Good for you, Matt. I'm glad you're running as an independent. It will be nice to have someone in the race who actually thinks about his positions rather than doing whatever Evil Party #1 or Evil Party #2 tells him to do.

Hixson doesn't want to talk about campaigns or anything else in public because someone might ask him what he has been doing for the past 3 years. He's just a seat-warmer.

For anyone who hasn't already made their mind up about me, I would enjoy listening to any concerns that you may have about Distict 43 and Wisconsin in general. Feel free email me at matt.gaboda.com to set up a meeting. I welcome your concerns.

In regards to using biomass instead of coal, we can do it. In an agriculture community held hostage by three commodities, (corn, soybeans, and wheat) we have the land to grow carbon sequestering perennial grasses. Switch grass for example. It can be done. This would open up many job opportunities in rural District 43. From harvest, to processing, and delivery, this can be a unique industry that District 43 can utilize to improve Wisconsin on many fronts.

I just reread this story. I certainly hope someone (anyone!) else jumps in this race.

Part of his platform is requiring biomass instead of coal? Where's it all going to come from? How are we going to get it there? Who's going to grow it and where? The left-leaning Public Service Commission already denied a proposal for a plant that would have used biomass in Cassville.
It's odd that Gaboda applauds Hixson's wrong-headed vote on wind siting. The wind-siting bill (backed by Doyle and Sheridan) was pretty much only 'pro-job' bill that Dems bragged about passing last year. Yet Hixson and this guy were against it??!?

One last thing, Hixson's staffer should not be talking about anything campaign related to the Janesville Gazette from his office within the state capitol.

The Republicans are "dancing in the aisles" after the latest Supreme Court decision handed down today !!!! Corporations can give any amount of money for political campaigns they want too. the 100 year old "floodgates of money to politicians" is now WIDE OPEN !!!

the newest member from Massachusets "hid" the fact he was a Republican, & ran as an "Independent" looks like them "floodgates" are open also

With just three or four months left in the legislative session, has Hixson introduced any bills that will help "create jobs"?? If not, what's he waiting for? Two terms into this, and with the Assembly Speaker as his legislative neighbor, you'd think the guy would be passing all kinds of good legislation. What is he doing?
I'm not sure what to make of Gaboda. As an independent he'd be unable to do anything of consequence. For better or worse, you have to pick a side when running for office.

No, it's Dean.

I would like to see Hixon challenged, however Gaboda's interpretations on the direction to take are not improvements. The concerns are real, I just don't believe his goals, if realized, will improve the economy or fair taxation. I have not supported Hixon in the past but I hope I won't be compelled to exorcise the "lesser-of-evils" on my ballot.

If he was serious, he would run as a Republican. The guy says he's a conservative.

I haven't voted for Hixon (he's an entrenched dem) and won't in the future but this guy sounds like a looney! Is this all that's out there?

Oh really Chevrolet?...and just what would he be running as?

I haven't voted for Hixon in the past, but he'll get my vote over this guy. He's running as a conservative candidate that has publicly PRAISED Hixon for bucking his party? I hate to say it, but if this guy was for real, he wouldn't be running as an Independent.

Although, based on his comments on many blogs, I am hesitant to endorse
Matt Gaboda, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt over the Democrat entrenched incumbent.

Go Team Venture! Hank, is that you?